Author's Notes: This chapter was revised on January 24, 2006.
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------June 6th------
Entry beginning at 9:29AM
I'm not quite sure when it was I woke up, all I know is that it wasn't a very good thing to wake up too. Somehow, I'd rolled off the couch and was now lying on top of Bankotsu.
And if that wasn't bad enough, Miroku and Sango were both there- gaping at me. What a perfect time for them to come into the office…
"Um… hi guys." I said meekly, as I got up- trying my best not to disturb Bankotsu.
Sango kept blinking, and Miroku just grinned. "Got tired of waiting for Inuyasha to make a move, eh Kagome?"
"It's not what it looks like," I whispered back, indicating with my hands that I wished for Bankotsu to remain asleep.
Miroku's grin became even wider, "Oh, of course, we won't tell Inuyasha that you gave up on him to go sleep with the member of that Kotsu gang."
"Miroku..." I said dangerously.
"Especially since you had the nerve to sleep with him here in the office."
Sango stepped forward and whispered to him, "Come on, let's at least hear her side of the story before you start going off thinking she's as perverted as you."
"Ouch..." Miroku replied, faking a hurt tone in his voice.
"Can't we at least go out in the hall and talk about this?" I persisted; I needed to keep Bankotsu asleep. If he woke up and started acting all friendly with me, it wouldn't look good.
Right now, I was just wishing I had taken the time to call them in regards to our case with Bankotsu. Then again, things were just getting worse and worse. Upon looking down, I noticed my shirt was somewhat unbuttoned, my skirt twisted, and my hair... was probably a mess. And right as that realization hit me; the door opened and none other than Inuyasha himself walked in.
"Neh, Kagome, so about those clues..."
He stopped dead in his tracks upon taking in the sight before him. I winced, and could only imagine what it appeared like to Inuyasha. Me standing there, clothes rumpled, Bankotsu sleeping on the floor, and Sango and Miroku looking at me like Inuyasha had just caught me red-handed.
"Kagome… how-how could you!"
"Inuyasha, please...let me explain."
"And with him of all people!"
I blinked and searched for a nice quick escape route.
"You slept with him when he's-he's… well he had that pink shirt!"
It was just then that Bankotsu had rolled in his sleep, muttering a few words, "Jakotsu, don't go..."
Everyone froze.
"Jakotsu?" Sango questioned.
Inuyasha just turned, pulled me further away from the sleeping Bankotsu, and muttered, "And I do not want to know what he's dreaming about!"
I just laughed nervously, "Really guys, this is all a big misunderstanding- if you'd just let me explain."
Inuyasha frowned, then put his hands on my shoulders and looked me straight in the face, "Okay, but promise me one thing."
"Um...what?" I replied hesitantly.
"That this explanation will not involve anything about him calling you 'Jakotsu,' okay?"
I nodded in the affirmative and started to clarify things.
"He couldn't go back to his place, because it would upset him and so I offered for him to sleep here on the couch; but he was acting kind of lonely, so I offered to stay here as well. He slept on the floor, I on the couch, but I guess I rolled off and that's when Miroku and Sango got here." I said, all in one rushed breath.
"I see..." Inuyasha's eyes narrowed on Bankotsu, "If he did anything to you, I won't hesitate to..."
"Kick his ass," I finished off the sentence for him, rolling my eyes. It was always the same.
"What? I would!"
"Well, you really shouldn't be getting all jealous about this..."
"Who said I was jealous?"
"He's jealous," Sango and Miroku mumbled at the same time.
"Am not! I was just worried about him trying some weird stuff with her. You know, with Jakotsu and all..."
"I would appreciate if you left me and Jakotsu out of your little fight," A calmed, yet still obviously angry voice spoke up. Bankotsu was awake.
"Sorry, look I can explain..." I was cut off before I could finish though. He had gotten up and was now face to face with Inuyasha.
"Look, what I do with my life is my business. That aside, I don't want to hear you telling me what to do when you can't even seem to treat a girl as nice as Kagome halfway decent. Some man you are, and here I'm the one with that pink shirt," He said, almost hissing out the words towards the end.
Inuyasha just stood there silently, then finally he spoke, "Hmph. Fine, whatever…Can we move on or something? This is stupid."
Smirking slightly, Bankotsu turned and whispered to me; just loud enough the others could overhear, "I think he has a problem with me, so why don't you and I deal with this case without him?"
It took about a millisecond before Inuyasha had pried Bankotsu away from me and had him pinned against the wall; "You and Kagome are not going anywhere or doing anything without me there, got it?"
An impish grin appeared on Bankotsu's face, "Oh, so you don't mind if it's a threesome then? Well, I'm not sure if you're my type of guy but..."
I just started laughing, as Inuyasha quickly dropped Bankotsu and was now yelling at him from behind me.
"Hey, don't even joke about that! It's not funny!"
"Then don't joke with me about matters I don't find funny, okay?"
"…Fine."
The room went entirely silent, and I felt it might be a good time to change the subject.
"So Sango, Miroku...did you find out anything new in the Naraku case?"
Miroku sighed, "We sat by the warehouses all day and I didn't see anything."
"I thought I saw a shoulder-length brown haired man leaving one building about mid-day, but before I could get a better look, someone decided my ass needed a pat down." Sango replied, glaring at the obvious offender.
"What?" He said, trying to act as innocent as possible.
"Miroku, don't go there," She retorted.
Shoulder-length brown hair, I thought to myself. That sounds like...
"We'll do better today, Kagome." Miroku said, breaking up my thoughts.
"And, you're working on a case with...him?" Sango questioned, wondering why Bankotsu was there.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Yes, his friend Jakotsu is missing and we are trying to figure out where he is."
"I see."
"Come on Miroku, before your perverted mind has a chance to think up anymore dirty thoughts," Sango said, practically dragging him out the door.
I could hear Miroku mumbling some protest, smiled, and called after them, "Bye guys!"
Things went silent for a few seconds before I heard a clanging, bumping sound from the desk behind me.
"So, we had those tapes right?" Inuyasha asked; he was digging in the drawer for the recorder.
"Oh, yes we did. Who did you get to talk to and tape Bankotsu?"
"All except Suikotsu and Mukotsu, but since you spoke with Suikotsu last night; the only one would be Mukotsu then."
I nodded, and prepared to play the recording. After finding a notebook to take notes in, and finding a suitable place to sit, I told Inuyasha to turn the tape on.
The sound of airy silence permeated the room for a few moments before a slight buzzing noise indicated that the tape had started. Pen ready, I sat waiting to hastily write what I would hear. There was the sound of a knock, then the door opening and a deeper voice speaking.
"Gesh...Bankotsu, you find him?"
The braided-man, who was sitting on the couch holding the hairpin in his hand, looked up as his voice on the tape spoke.
"No. I came by to see if anything that happened yesterday might give me an idea where Jakotsu is."
"Can ya help me with one thing first?"
"Um...what?"
"Kyoukotsu's stuck in the bathroom door again."
I blinked, and turned as Inuyasha fell out of his chair. He scrambled up and hit the stop button.
"Kagome, this stupid! Whether some idiot is stuck in the door or not doesn't help us at all!"
"Inuyasha, that's no way to talk about Bankotsu's friend."
"Actually, Kyoukotsu isn't the brightest guy. He keeps forgetting to turn sideways to get through the doorways."
We both paused and looked to him, not believing how bluntly he spoke.
"Uh...what?" He questioned, obviously confused by both of us staring at him. I quickly diverted my eyes.
"Oh...it's nothing- Inuyasha, turn the tape back on."
Grumbling to himself, he complied with my request and switched the machine back on. It started up immediately.
"So Bankotsu, you were with him last night and now he's just gone?"
"That's about it, Ginkotsu. He's just...missing."
"Gesh, I see. Oi Kyoukotsu, you're wedged good."
Another voice came on. "Why can't I just rip off the doorframe?"
Bankotsu replied to him, "Because the last time you did that the frame was still stuck around you, even though it was off the door itself."
I heard mumbling and looked over to see Inuyasha glaring at the recorder as it continued to play.
"I'm telling you guys I can get out."
"Kyoukotsu, maybe I should go get the crowbar."
"I can get out! Just watch!"
A loud creaking noise, then the sound of wooden beams snapping and falling was heard.
"Yesh, not again!"
"Damnit Kyoukotsu! We're gonna have to rob another convenience store if you keep this up!"
I frowned as I looked over at Inuyasha, who had just muttered something about doing a job for a bunch of criminals.
"Eheh...I was just joking when I told him that. Really, I was," Bankotsu remarked nervously.
The tape still continued- more arguing over the doorframe, more things getting broken, and more angry mutters from Inuyasha. Finally, it seemed they were going to sit down and talk.
"So, you said Jakotsu was talking to Mukotsu before you guys went to sleep?"
"Yesh, they didn't get to talk much though because Suikotsu showed up with medication problems again."
"He has been having trouble with that lately. I think he might be getting immune to his current pills."
"Gesh. I just hope that he doesn't go off the handle someday."
I paused in my writing- wait a minute, Bankotsu might have been the last to talk with Jakotsu, but Suikotsu was the last to see him. Could Suikotsu's other side have done something without Suikotsu himself knowing?
Before my thoughts on the matter could continue any further, a phone started ringing. I looked over to the office phone, but that wasn't it. It was then that Bankotsu reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.
"Hello? What? Suikotsu's what? Mukotsu, I can't hear you. In his apartment?"
I saw him cringe.
"Mukotsu, what just broke? Aww damnit. I'm coming, try to keep him there."
After hitting the 'end' button, he turned to us.
"I hate to run like this, but Mukotsu is having some problems with Suikotsu and if I don't go now- who knows what he'll end up destroying."
"That's all right, but we do need to speak with Mukotsu. Do you mind if we go with you?"
"Errr, I'm not sure if that's safe. Suikotsu's a little..."
"Keh, I'll handle him if he causes either of us any trouble," Inuyasha remarked standing.
Bankotsu just shrugged, "Fine, if you insist. I'll let him rip your head off in place of mine."
The two glared at each other for a few more seconds, as if sizing the other up, before turning back towards me.
"Kagome, we're going," Inuyasha stated, daring Bankotsu to try and stop us.
"Okay, but I'm warning you- this isn't going to be a pretty sight."
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We headed off to the Ushitora area of town, noting that the buildings seemed to get more and more dilapidated as we went.
"This place looks like a dump," Inuyasha commented.
"This isn't anything; we haven't gotten inside Suikotsu's apartment yet," Bankotsu replied, as he pointed out the apartment building in question.
We walked up the old, tattered stairs to the sixth floor. As we neared the door, we could already hear the sound of someone yelling in Japanese.
"Great, he's in one of those moods," Bankotsu sighed, running a hand through his bangs.
He went to knock on the door, when a loud crash from inside was heard; a short figure rushed out, slamming the door behind him as something collided into the closed door.
"Mukotsu, what's going on in there?"
"Oh, Bankotsu, it's you. Suikotsu's gone off the handle, completely nuts. I can't get any of the medications he has to work. I have a sedative with me, but I can't get near him to inject it into him."
"I wonder what set him off this time," He pondered aloud.
"The store was out of Sunkist."
"That stupid orange drink? Why would you want to drink that shit?" Inuyasha stated bluntly.
Bankotsu shrugged, "Beats me, but for some reason Suikotsu loves the stuff. Depriving him of it is like...depriving a fish from water."
"Bankotsu, you think you could hold him still long enough for me to get the sedative into him?"
"And what will you do then? I thought you said none of the other medications work."
"I have a stronger one that should, but with him this upset, I can't get near him or convince him to take it."
"Okay Mukotsu, you wait out here with these people, I'm going in." He said; a determined look on his face as he shoved his sleeves up.
He opened the door and shut it quickly behind him. Then, the muffled sounds of Suikotsu's Japanese shouts intermingled with Bankotsu yelling at him in return and a few more crashes. It went silent, too silent, until a deep rumbling sound was heard, and I felt Inuyasha jerk me away from the doorway.
"Oh my..." The door had been smashed down and was now laying shattered on the hallway floor. Bankotsu was pinned down against it, and Suikotsu looking extremely crazed, was on top of him holding a knife to his throat.
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Preview for Chapter 4: If something isn't done soon, it looks like another Kotsu member might be in some serious trouble. But what has caused Suikotsu to be like this, and is it perhaps, a lead in the case?